The racecourse at the US National Drone Racing Championship was specifically designed to highlight he historic landmarks that surround it, such as the Statue of Liberty, seen here through the netting that was installed to protect spectators from rogue aircraft.

A drone provides an aerial perspective of the
racecourse and the tents that provided shelter
from the sweltering New York summer sun.

The Drone Nationals course covered the Play Lawn on Governors Island and afforded
spectators and pilots alike a dramatic view of the Manhattan skyline.

actively competing in drone racing,” he
said. “Just about now, that’s hit about

20,000 members. It’s the fastest-growing
area that we’ve seen in the hobby, and
we think it’s going to continue that way
because it does represent a hobby: a
passion and a shared interest that relates
to what all of us do in model aviation,
no matter what particular disciple we’re
engaged in.”
Within the AMA, drone racing
is overseen by a dedicated Special
Interest Group: MultiGP. Also known
as Multirotor Grand Prix, the group
was established by Chris Thomas as a
grassroots organization to promote the
sport and encourage new pilots to get
involved and fly in a safe, responsible
manner. Its partnership with AMA was
announced in November 2015, and in
early September 2016, the group held its
own national championship in Muncie,
Indiana.

On Governors Island, the race was
held on a patch of open ground along
its northwest shore known as the Play
Lawn. Home to a pair of youth
baseball diamonds, it was given
over to the Drone Nationals during
the extensive preparations leading up to
the August 5-7 competition.

The course included a number of
innovative features that would be
unfamiliar at conventional RC flying
competitions. The spectators, racing staff,
and pilots were protected from wayward
aircraft by 30-foot nets that surrounded
the most vulnerable portions of the
flight path.

“I’ve been in the hobby since the
1950s,” said Andy. “Even after all those
years, when I see the attention that has
gone into the safety of this event, I’m
very impressed. That netting completely
protects everyone involved. Then, before
the race, the pilots walk the course to
build their familiarity with it. I’d like to
see some of these ideas adopted by other
competitions we hold within the AMA.”
Andy was particularly impressed by
the “Aquarium.” It is a box constructed
with bulletproof Plexiglass that put
spectators directly in the path of the
oncoming aircraft, giving them
a way to experience the speed and
maneuverability of these aircraft
firsthand.

“I thought it was a great idea, although
at first I didn’t realize you could stand in
it,” Andy said with a laugh. “I thought it
was another obstacle, but then I saw the
people inside and I think they got a big
kick out of it.”
The course also included elevated
gates, some up to 30 feet above
ground level, which required pilots to
navigate in three dimensions. Scot, who
developed the course on a computer,
described Quidditch as his inspiration
for the design.

For any muggles among the readership
of Model Aviation, Quidditch is an
imaginary sport played by Harry Potter
and his chums at Hogwart’s School of
Wizardry and Witchcraft, riding flying
broomsticks in pursuit of the elusive
Golden Snitch.